Author: Justin

Continuing on the Bodell side…

Emma Jane Farmer crosses the plains in 1856 with her family at 13 years old.  In May 1862 she marries a young widower named Joseph Bodell.  Joseph was born in England to Henry Bodell and Jane Elsie (Elsey?).  Jane was baptized when Joseph was seven, with Henry being baptized two years later.  Joseph was baptized 4 FEB 1852 at age 12.  It is unknown when Joseph came over, but before his 20th birthday he is already in SLC and getting married to his first wife (May 1860).  They have a baby a little over 18 months later, and his wife dies two weeks after that (14 APR 1862).  He marries Emma Jane Farmer about a month later (17 MAY), and the baby dies 2 SEP 1862, about six months old.

The following year (1863), his father Henry dies and is buried “on the plains.”  When did Joseph Bodell come over?  Is it possible that he came over with his father’s family, and Henry died on a later trip bringing another group of Saints across?  When did Henry’s family leave England?  Anybody want to tackle these questions?

Jeremiah Reuben Freeman’s side is next….

*** Initial Disclaimer*** I’m getting a lot of this info from Church websites (e.g. new.familysearch.org, FamilySearch Family Tree, etc.) which doesn’t necessarily make it accurate. If anyone has access to records that dispute this info PLEASE let me know!

OK, so with all this reunion talk, it got me thinking about our family history, and when each particular root first joined the church.  This is Part 2 of

Dad’s side is a little more tricky.  Grandma Freeman’s side we know, with all four of her grandparents being baptized in Denmark and emigrating to Utah and California.

Grandpa Freeman’s parents were Jeremiah Reuben Freeman and Emma Jane Bodell.  All four of EJB’s grandparents were born in England, with most emigrating to/toward Utah, with her maternal grandstepmother (Elisabeth Morris) being buried on the plains in July 1856, and her paternal grandfather (Henry Bodell) being buried on the plains in 1863.  Anyone have any info on their respective pioneer companies, or how to find that out?  It would be interesting to find any details about those two deaths.

EJB was the daughter of Joseph Bodell and Emma Jane Farmer, both of whom were born in England.  Emma Jane Farmer was the second of seven kids born to James Morris Farmer and Sarah Trussler.  Her mother seems to have died either in labor or due to complications of childbirth, as her death date is 26 AUG 1851 and “Baby Farmer” was born and died AUG 1851.  Emma Jane was 8 yrs old when her mom and baby sibling died.  Two years later (1853), her father married Elisabeth Morris.  James has a confirmation date of 1 JUL 1848 (when he was 32), and Elisabeth’s baptism/confirmation are dated 6 OCT 1837, so it’s possible they met at church.

!!!WEIRD ALERT!!!  It’s possible they met LONG before that.  I’m guessing that there’s been a data entry/merge error somewhere along the line, because it seems this Elisabeth Morris is actually his widowed mother!  Was that allowed?  At first you’d think, maybe she’s just helping out with the kids and is just listed as living there.  BUT there is another kid listed between their marriage date and Elisabeth’s death date.  Anyone want to figure out what’s up with that one? 

That kid was Willard Biddle Farmer, born 26 OCT 1855 in Nottingham, and died 26 JUL 1856 “on the plains.”  He was nine months old.  Elisabeth Morris also died “on the plains” JUL 1856.  It couldn’t have been easy to have a baby, get on a ship, then start crossing the plains.  Emma Jane would have been 12 during the sea voyage, and was baptized 10 MAY 1856, turning 13 on 26 JUN.  Would her baptism have had to been in the U.S., or would there have been time to leave England in May and still get to Nebraska (or wherever) by July?    So at 13 years old, she’s already seen two mother figures and two baby siblings die, has crossed the Atlantic, and crossed the plains.  No doubt being the second oldest she’s got a lot to do to help with the younger kids as well.

To be continued…

*** Initial Disclaimer*** I’m getting a lot of this info from Church websites (e.g. new.familysearch.org, FamilySearch Family Tree, etc.) which doesn’t necessarily make it accurate. If anyone has access to records that dispute this info PLEASE let me know!

OK, so with all this reunion talk, it got me thinking about our family history, and when each particular root first joined the church.

Of course, Mom’s side is pretty easy, with her parents both being the first in their respective lines to be baptized.  I had always assumed Mom was BIC, but I just noticed that Grandpa wasn’t baptized until December AFTER Mom was born, with Grandma Judy being baptized a year later.  Interestingly, Grandma Helen’s book say she was baptized by Wayne on May 3, 1953, with Edward and Marlene.  However, the Church sites have her baptismal date listed as 18 DEC 1999 in the Dallas temple.  Anyone have any idea what happened with that?

Mom, can you find out what the circumstances were behind your parents taking the discussions and getting baptized?  If you already know, can you share that with us?

We’ll start with Dad’s side in the next one…

She’s here. Born on a Saturday, like all our other kids. Born on a football rivalry game day where the good guys lose, like her brother Elijah. (Though technically, since we live in the future, they didn’t actually lose until the next day. It was tied at half when we stopped watching.) 6 lbs. 7 oz. 19 inches. Final verdict on the name is Coralie Xiuqin. Still not EXACTLY sure where “Coralie” came from (the girls have been vague on the actual source), but Xiuqin was Grandma Judy’s given name. (“Judy” wasn’t all the rage in the 20’s in Chinese baby name circles as it is now–or isn’t.)

If you want to see pictures, look at Chris and Leah’s pictures of Oliver. She kind of looks like that. But different. And she’s a girl.

***UPDATE***
Laurie has posted some pics on the facebook.

***UPDATED UPDATE***
She posted stuff on her blog too.

Had to hit you here, since Will doesn’t have the facebook. Hope it’s a good one.